A very noble, ancient and glorious family

The tradition dates back the main branch of the Bourbon family to the 8th century AD: its founder, Hildebrand, was one of Charles Martello’s brothers, and therefore Charlemagne’s great -uncle.

Anyway, historical documents already provide certain data from the 9th century on: the Bourbon Lords, vassals of the Earl of Bourges, were the owners of the castle bearing the same name (today Bourbon-Archambault) and a document of that time gives information on Aimar, founder between 916 and 922 of Souvigny Monastery, at Moulins, called "miles clarissimus", whereas another document of 936 gives information on his brother’s Guido, Earl of Bourbon. Another document of 953 talks about Aimone I, Aimar’s son, and describes it as a man powerful enough to deny his vassalage to the Earl of Bourges and assert his dominion over the Bourbon fief.
Archembaud I (980-1031), Archembaud II (1034-1078), who gave himself the title of prince and earl of Bourbon, and Archembaud III (1078-1105) succeeded him. Archembaud III’s son, Archembaud IV (1116-1171) had to succeed his father, but his uncle Aimone II (1105-1116) usurped the throne and started a new lineage with his son, Archembaud V (1116-1171), who succeeded his father and tied blood relations with the Capetians by marrying Agnes, Countess of Savoy and sister of Alice, wife of the King of France Louis VI.
He took part in the Crusades and distinguished himself in the battles, but lose his only son in young age. His son’s daughter, Mathilda (1171-1215) - whose mother was Alice of Burgundy - became the only heir of his titles and properties.

Saint Louis IX

After a first unhappy marriage, Mathilda married a brave general of King Philip Augustus, Guy de Dampierre, so brave that their son, Archembaud VI the Great (1215-1243) - who started the Bourbon-Dampierre family - inherited larger territorial fiefs. His son, Archembaud VII opened up again the problem of succession since he died in Cyprus, while participating in a Crusade, and left two daughters who had both married one of the two sons of the Duke of Burgundy. His titles went first to Mathilda II (1249-1262), and then to her sister Agnes (1262-1288). At that point the event destined to change the future of the Bourbon family occurred. Agnes' daughter, Beatrice (1277-1310) married Robert of Clermont, sixth son of St. Louis IX, King of France. In this way the princely branch of the Bourbon family found its origin, since they had now married into the main branch of the Capetians, Kings of France, and therefore direct descendants of St. Louis IX and Charlemagne (from whom they inherited the symbol of the French fleur-de-lis) .

The Ducal Line

Robert and Agnes' son, Louis I (1310-1341) got the title of Duke from King Charles IV of Valois (the direct descent of the Capetians had died out in the meanwhile). But that lineage had not the best future. So we will leave it aside and follow instead the lineage of Louis I third son, James I (1342-1361), a hero of war together with his elder son (both died on the battlefield), who got the titles of Constable of France and Earl of La Marche (and other fiefs).

His heir was his son John (1361-1393), he too a brave warrior, who married the heiress of the earldom of Vendôme, which he gave to his second son Louis (1393-1446), the founder of the Bourbon-Vendôme line. In short, we list: John (1446-1478), his son Francis (1478-1495), his son Charles (1495-1537), who got the title of Duke from King Francis I in 1515 and could hand it down to his heirs, his son Antonio (1537-1562), heir of the Duchy and King of Navarre thanks to his marriage to Joan of Albret.

The rise to the Throne

Coat of Arms of the Bourbon of France (with the fleurs-de-lis, symbol of Charlemagne’s royalty)

At this point, this branch of the Bourbon, although cadet, became the most important one also because the other branches died out and because of the royal title of Navarre, so that Antonio started to openly express his designs to conquer the Throne of France. This claim was supported by the tragedy of the wars of religion in France between Catholics and Protestant Huguenots. Antonio became the head of the Huguenot party and started a civil war against the Guise family and the Royal House represented by the three sons of King Henry II (who died prematurely in 1559) and Catherine de' Medici.